Crutch



(No Model.)

L. A. WI-LDHAGK.

GRUTGH.

No. 444,189. Patented Jan. 6,1891.

Fig. 3 is a top view thereot.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS AMANDUS WILDHACK, OF LEADVILLE, COLORADO.

CRUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,189, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed October 17, 1890. Serial No. 368,393. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs AMANDUS WILD- HACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful 1(grutch, of which the following is a specifica- My invention relates to an improvementin crutches, canes, and the like, whereby the crutch or cane is adapted for use in the house without injuring the carpets or floors, and also adapted for outdoor use, particularly in wet weather and when the streets are slippery; and it consists in certain features of novelty to be hereinafter described, and then particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a cane provided with myimproved device, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the plug in section, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a crutch, showing my invention applied.-

The cane or crutch 1 is reduced at its lower end to provide a tenon 2, onto which is screwed an internally-sorew-threaded ferrule 3, the sides of which are preferably continuous with the sides of the cane or crutch. The lower end of the ferrule 3 projects beyond the cane to provide a socket 3, which receives a plug, said plug consisting of an externally-screwthreaded cap-sleeve 4, closed at one end, and projecting from the center of the closed end is a spur 8, which is provided with a lateral opening 9 at its base, adapted to receive a nail or button-hook, whereby the plug may be screwed into and be unscrewed from the screw-threaded ferrule 3. The cavity 10 of the cap 4 receives a rubbercushion 11, snugly fitted therein. It will be observed that the plug consisting of said parts is provided with a spur at one end and a cushion at the other end, and may be reversed, thus permitting the spur or the cushion to project below the ferrule 3, as occasion may require.

When the plugis screwed within the ferrule 3 so that the elastic cushion 11 projects beyond the lower end of the ferrule, the cane or crutch is particularly adapted for indoor use, as the floors or carpets cannot be injured thereby; but when the plug is inverted andscrewed within the ferrule so that the spur projects beyond the ferrule the cane or crutch is particularly adapted for use outdoors in wet weather and when the streets are slippery.

By providing the ferrule and the sleeve with screw-threads said parts may be readily and at the same time rigidly secured together, producing a tight joint in which dirt cannot accumulate.

Taking the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the cane or crutch is adapted for indoor use, by grasping the rubber cushion llthe plug may be unscrewed and the same inverted, and when in the opposite position it is simply necessary to insert a button-hook, nail, or other suitable device into the opening 9 and, employing the same as a lever, unscrew the plug.

What I claim is A crutch or the like provided with an internally-sorew-threaded ferrule projecting beyond the ends of the cane to provide a socket, in combination with a reversible removable plug, the same consisting of an externallythreaded cap adapted to screw into the socket in said ferrule, a spur projecting from one end of said sleeve, and an elastic cushion fitted in and projecting from the other end of said sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS AMANDUS VILDHACK.

Witnesses:

L. HOWELL, DAN HEALY. 

